Socket and locking means



May 2, 1961 R. E. KIRK SOCKET AND LOCKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1959 INVENTOR. Robert 5. Kirk His Afforngy May 2, 1961 Filed July 13, 1959 R. E. KIRK SOCKET AND LOCKING MEANS lOx 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I29 7K --|0i lt-iox IZP L 2f a C IOy Fig. 5

INVENTOR.

Roben E. Kirk 2% Z Yaw His Attorney SOCKET AND LOCKING MEANS Robert E. Kirk, Warren, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. No. 826,675

Claims. (Cl. 339128) This invention relates to an insulated electrical socket means, and, particularly, to retention means therewith adapted .for positioning the socket means including electrical terminal connections relative to a mounting aperture.

openings therein through which'free ends of a pair of flexible arms project and can be laterally deflected with respect to an end of each arm integral with the socket of insulating material at a location remote and longitudinally spaced from the flange portion, the free ends of the arms having lateral extensions which resist removal of the socket from the panel aperture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical socket of insulating material divided into plural interior chamber portions and having a laterally-outwardly extending flange portion adapted to limit insertion of the socket in one direction relative to a mounting panel aperture as well as having a pair of resilient arms each integral at one end with the insulating material of the socket at a location to one side of the flange portion and each provided with a detent at a free end located on an opposite side of the flange portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical socket of plastic material divided into chloral interior chamber portions and having a laterally-outwardly extending annular flange portion adapted to limit insertion of the socket in one direction relative to a mounting panel aperture as well as having a pair of laterally and longitudinally extending resilient arms each integral at one end with the plastic material of the socket at a location to one side of the flange portion and each provided with a laterally-outwardly extending extension adjacent to a free end of the arm on an opposite side of the flange portion that provides a semi-arcuate bridge for limiting radially outward movement of each arm.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric lamp socket means including a body portion of plastic material divided into plural interior chamber portions closed laterally outwardly by wall portions from which a pair of laterally-outwardly and longitudinally extending resilient arms project and have one end integral with one wall portion that is parallel to the arm and spaced a predetermineddistance therefrom to permit inward flexing of the arm that has afree end projecting through an axial opening in an annular radially outwardly extending. flange means extending laterally outwardly from one end of the wall. portions, the free end of each arm having a locking shoulder located on a side of the flange means opposite to the side where each arm is integral with the atent wall portion in a location intermediate end of. the wall portions, the free end of each arm projecting through the axial opening in a substantially median location so as to permit resilient lateral movement of the arm both inwardly andoutwardly, one of the chamber portions of the plastic material having a'substantially cylindrical metal sleeve therein including means for electrically engaging a lamp bulb, the sleeve having an axial extension means -for engagment in at least one axial slot open at one end and closed laterally such that the sleeve is anchored in the plastic material and a further chamber portion is provided in the socket in a location parallel longitudinally relative to the slot for receiving at least one terminal means with a resilient semi-arcuate end portion adapted to engage the lamp bulb and a ferrule portion connectible to an electric conductor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a socket of insulating material in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end View of the socket of Fig. 1 taken in the direction of arrow 2.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of an end opposite to that shown in Fig. 2 and taken in the direction of arrow 4.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevational view similar to that of Fig. 3 and showing modified structure.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a metal sleeve or shell insertable in the socket of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

in Fig. 1 there is shown an electrical socket of insulating material that forms a longitudinally extending hollow body portion generally indicated by numeral 10. The body portion 10 is substantially rectangular in cross section as apparent in Fig. 2 and includes an integral, annular, radially-outwardly extending flange means or flange portion 10f having a pair of axial openings 10a therein. As seen in Fig. 2, these openings 10a are substantially diametrically opposite in location relative to the flange 10 which provides a semi-arcuate bridge 10b located laterally outside each of the openings 10a, The socket includes wall portions 10w joined by transverse wall segments 10x along opposite ends of a central partion ltiy that forms av pair of chamber portions 10x which are parallel and longitudinally spaced relative to each other for receiving terminal means generally indicated by numeral 12. The terminal means 12 are illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 and include a ferrule portion 12 having wings adapted to be crimped into engagement with an insulated conductor C. Each terminal means includes a body portion 12b extending longitudinally relative to the ferrule portion 12] and a transverse arm portion 12! which interconnects the body portion with an arcuate resilient contact portion 12c best seen in Fig. 5. A curved end portion 12e of the terminal means is integral with the curved contact portion ata location spaced away from the body portion 12b such that a free end 120! abuts against the transverse portion 12! for enhancing resilient engagement of the contact portion 120 relative to a central contact of a lamp bulb generally indicated by numeral 14. v

The terminal means 12 each includes a laterally-cute. wardly extending guide portion 12g engageable in a guide slot 10g. of wall portion 10w as best seen in Figs. 2 and- 3.. A laterally and longitudinally extending prong portion'12p of each terminal means is also provided integral *3 at one end with the transverse portion 12t and is adapted to engage an intermediate shoulder portion 101 provided by the central partition 10y. Dotted lines in Fig. 5 outline a position of contact portion 12c when there is no bulb 14 in an insulating socket therewith. It is to be understood that one or more contacts 140 can be provided on a lamp bulb 14.

The socket is provided with a further space of a hollow interior including a main chamber portion 10m separated in part from chamber portions 10z by a central transverse partition 10f. In the main chamber portion 10m there is provided a cylindrical metal sleeve or shell means generally indicated by numeral 16. This shell means includes a substantially cylindrical body portion 16b shown in an end view of Fig. 6 and having a pair of longitudinally extending grooves 16g located diametrically opposite each other and adapted for receiving bayonet projections 14!; of the lamp bulb 14. A gencrally J-shaped structure is provided in conjunction with each of the grooves 16g due to provision of a cutout 160 relative to which the beyonet projections 14b of the lamp bulb 14 can be fitted. The sleeve or shell 16 is further provided with a pair of substantially diametrically opposite resilient contact arms 16:: that extend laterally and longitudinally outwardly as seen in Figs. 3 and 5. A radially-outwardly extending shoulder portion 16s is provided adjacent to a free end of each of the resilient arms 16a and this shoulder portion is adapted to engage a periphery 17p of an aperture 17a in a mounting panel generally indicated by numeral 17 as shown in Fig. 3. Only a fragment of the mounting panel 17 is illustrated and on one side of the panel adjacent to the aperture 17a the flange means 10 engages the panel. The socket of insulating material 10 has integral axial projections 10p having radially-outwardly extending shoulders 10s also adapted to lock into engagement with the mounting panel 17 along a periphery 17p of the aperture 17a on a side opposite to that engaged by the flange means 10]. A plurality of the axial projections 10p can be provided as indicated in the illustration of Fig. 4, and it is understood that appropriate spaces and slots are provided intermediate these projections 10p such that arms 16a of the sleeve means 16 can be properly positioned relative to the socket 10 and panel 17. The shell means 16 is also provided with a pair of substantially diametrically opposite lugs 16L that project laterally outwardly and extend longitudinally and axially from an end of the shell opposite to the end where the arms 16a are provided.

These lugs 16L have barbs or projections 16x on opposite sides thereof adapted to bite into plastic material along surfaces inside slot 10L formed in the plastic material between wall portions 10w and a housing extension 1011. The barbs 16x can be best seen in Fig. 7 and the pair of housing extensions can be seen in the end view of Fig. 2. In Fig. 3 there is a cross section taken through one of these housing extensions 16h to show positioning of lug 16L in slot 10L. The lugs 16L are in effect axial extension means for engagement in axial slots such as 10L open at one end and closed laterally such that the sleeve means 16 is anchored in the plastic material is aligned to be concentric and coaxial in the main chamber portion 10m of the socket 10. It is apparent in the view of Fig. 3 that slot 161 is located to be parallel and longitudinal relative to chamber portions 10m and 10z.

' It is to be understood that the mounting panel 17 can be made of insulating material having predetermined printed circuit conducting portions thereon engageable by the resilient arm means 16a of the sleeve and also that the panel 17 can be made of metal so as to provide a ground connection through the resilient arms 16a of sleeve means 16 in electrical engagement with the bulb 14. The socket 10 of the prment invention can be used, for example, as a tail lamp socket assembly and then at least a pair of conductors C attached terminal means 12 would be provided as shown in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 2 because a light bulb such as 14 would include a double filament. One of these filaments would provide illumination in a well-known manner. and the second filament provides increased illumination and brightness upon energization of either a stop light and/or directional signal light switch means as is well-known. It is noted that one of the axial projections 10p is also provided with a laterally-outwardly projecting key 10k adapted to be complementary to a cutout or slot extending radially outwardly from the periphery 17p of the aperture 17a in the mounting panel 17. The purpose of this key 10k is to assure polarization and proper connection of the lamp socket and particularly the resilient arms 16a whenever a printed circuit conducting portion is provided on the panel 17 with which electrical connection must be established in a predetermined relationship.

The socket 10 of insulating material is further provided with a pair of flexible arms 20 having a laterally inwardly extending end portion 202 integral with wall portions 10w as shown in views of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A main body portion of these flexible arms extends longitudinally and parallel relative to the wall portions having a predetermined spacing governed by a slot that extends longitudinally intermediate the wall portion and adjacent resilient arm 20. The end 202 at which the resilient arm is integral with the socket 10 is located along a median portion of the walls and on one side of the flange portion 10 A free end of the resilient arm is remote from the integral end Zfle and provides a projection 20;; or protruding portion that extends centrally through the axial openings 10a in diametrically opposite locations relative to the flange portion 16f. The central location of this projecting portion 20p is such that the free end of the arms 20 can each be flexed laterally inwardly and outwardly relative to the bridge portion 10b of the flange means 10;. It is to be understood that the laterally inward flexing of the arms 20 is such that a locking abutment or shoulder 20a formed extending laterally outwardly from the projecting portion 20p of the arms 20 can engage panel 17 along an edge or periphery of aperture 17a on the side of the panel opposite to that engaged by flange means 101 as shown in Fig. 3. Lock ing shoulders or abutments 20a resist removal of the socket body from a panel unless the arms are depressed to move the shoulders out of the way. The arms and locking shoulders do not contribute to normal retention of the socket in the hole but rather chiefly resist removal of the socket by an accidental blow on the socket body or an accidental pull on wires or conductors C due to any cause.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An improved socket means adapted to fit a mounting panel aperture, comprising, a hollow body portion of insulating material, a plurality of axial projections having radial shoulders for engaging a periphery of the mounting panel aperture and integral at one end with said body portion, a radially outwardly extending flange having a' pair of axial openings therein, and a pair of flexible arms integral at one end with said body portion and having free ends laterally deflectable and projecting through the axial openings, said arms having locking extensions projecting laterally outwardly and adapted to be engaged along one side of the mounting panel aperture so as to resist removal of the body portion from the panel aperture.

2. An electrical socket means adapted to fit relative to a mounting panel aperture, comprising, a body of insulating material having longitudinally extending chamber portions therein, at least one wall portion subdividing space of at least one of the chamber portions, terminal means adapted to be locked in engagement with said wall portion, an end of said body having an edge surrounding an opening formed thereby and adapted to fit relative to a mounting panel aperture, at least a pair of resilient arms having one end integral with said body at a location remote from said edge, and laterally outwardly protruding extensions integral with free ends of said arms at 10- cations substantially adjacent to said edge, and positive means fixed to said body for limiting outward movement of said arms.

3. An electrical socket means adapted to fit relative to a mounting panel aperture, comprising, a body of insulating material having longitudinally extending chamber portions therein, at least one wall portion subdividing space of at least one of the chamber portions, terminal means adapted to be held in engagement with said wall portion, an end of said body having projection means surrounding an opening formed thereby for engagement relative to a mounting panel aperture, a laterally outwardly extending flange having a pair of axial openings therein, a pair of flexible arms integral at one end with said body portion and having free ends laterally deflectable and projecting through the axial openings, and laterally outwardly projecting locking extensions located integrally adjacent to free ends of said arms on an opposite side of said flange and adapted to engage a peripheral edge of the mounting panel aperture opposite to that engaged by said flange.

4. The socket means of claim 3 wherein said flange has a pair of bridges located substantially diagonally opposite each other and laterally outwardly relative to the axial openings in said flange, said bridges individual-1y serving to limit outward movement of free ends of said arms.

5. An electrical socket means adapted to fit relative -to a mounting panel aperture, comprising, a body of plastic material divided into plural interior chamber portions, a laterally outwardly extending annular flange portion adapted to limit insertion of the socket means in one direction relative to a mounting panel aperture and having a pair of axial openings therein located laterally inside a semi-arcuate bridge provided with said flange adjacent to each opening, and a pair of laterally and longitudinally extending resilient arms each integral at one end with the plastic material at a location to one side of the flange portion and each provided with a laterally outwardly extending extension adjacent to a free end of each arm on an opposite side of the flange portion that includes said bridges for limiting laterally outward movement of the free end of each arm that extends through the axial openings in said flange portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

